Sometimes watching a professional athlete at work makes for the best Fitness inspiration. Granted, we can find innumerable other ways to motivate ourselves to pursue fitness more rigorously, but it’s hard to deny that little surge of inspiration you feel when you watch a truly elite athlete reaping the benefits of hard work.

Most of us will never quite reach that level – but we can at least come close, and maximize our own potential. 

Keeping this in mind, we’re doing a rundown of juts a few of the most impressive athletes on the planet, each of whom might just motivate you to ramp up your routine or spend a bit more time in the gym. 

1. Tiger Woods 

Tiger Woods has long stood out from a fitness standpoint, basically because he’s unusually athletic for his Sport. That’s not to say golfers aren’t athletic, but it is probably fair to note that we don’t often see golfers who wouldn’t look out of place in most other professional sports.

Woods has always had a sturdy, muscled, and toned physique, not to mention a cat-like, easy movement, that would help him to fit in as an NFL receiver or an NBA guard.

Now, however, Tiger’s fitness is remarkable for a whole different reason than it was when he was in his prime. Now, he’s become a symbol of perseverance and recovery.

Following years of on-and-off play and some near-tragic low points with back and knee injuries, Woods came back to win The Masters just this spring, and now isn’t ruling out passing Jack Nicklaus. It’s an incredible story, and a reminder to all of us that we can always improve our fitness. 

2. Giannis Antetokounmpo 

Giannis Antetokounmpo is still in the process of becoming a household name, but he may well be the best basketball player in the world in a matter of years – if he’s not already.

Antetokounmpo is most people’s favorite for the NBA’s MVP award, and the sports bookies online are describing his Milwaukee Bucks as a good bet to win the NBA Finals.

In fact, in some cases they’re suggesting people bet on the Bucks despite the fact that so many are doing so the odds are shrinking! Milwaukee is a great team, but this is all largely because of Antetokounmpo’s superstar turn – and his improved fitness.

It can be somewhat difficult to draw real-life Fitness Inspiration from a guy who’s 6’11’’ with a 7’3’’ wingspan, but Anteotkounmpo’s visible physical transformation from his rookie season until now is awfully impressive. He’s the perfect image of how to build muscle successfully while staying lean. 

3. Harry Kane 

Harry Kane, who plays soccer for Tottenham Hotspur and England, doesn’t always get mentioned among the fittest men in his sport. He can be overshadowed sometimes by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, whose shirtless form is about as famous as his iconic jersey, or Edinson Cavani, who is just an all-around imposing physical player.

Kane, however, is known for a tireless workout routine, has come back well from injury on multiple occasions, and has been known to run more than eight miles’ worth over the course of a single match.

He’s perhaps not uniquely fit in the soccer world, but he’s up there with the best of them, and the complete picture of his athleticism over the years is a nice lesson to all of us to remain consistent. 

4. Saquon Barkley 

Saquon Barkley is about to enter just his second season in the NFL, but he’s already opened a lot of eyes and turned a lot of heads. The Giants star had such a convincing rookie campaign he drew comparisons to some of the best running backs in history, and he already appears to be on track for a Hall of Fame career, barring anything unforeseen.

You don’t make that much of an impression without possessing off-the-charts football talent, but Barkley is also a physical specimen the likes of which we don’t see very often.

To prove the point, in a sense, we’d note that he was the league’s first rookie to be included in the ESPN “body issue,” wherein he showed off his fit frame and ludicrously powerful legs. Barkley is an inspiration simply in that he seems to exemplify something close to peak human fitness. 

5. Roger Federer 

Roger Federer may well be the greatest tennis player who ever lived, and the way he’s playing into his late 30s he probably isn’t done adding accolades. Just recently he won his 100th ATP title, and promptly won his 101st a matter of weeks later.

Many would bet on the idea that he still has a Grand Slam or two in his back pocket as well. It’s all incredibly impressive, and only gets more so the older he gets, which is why he stands as something of a fitness icon despite what can at times look almost like too slim a frame for an athlete.

Think of him as something of a combination of Kane and Woods, from this list – a durable endurance athlete who’s shown an unprecedented ability to maintain his fitness level with age.

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